Carputers

[Clean_Cookie]

if i were doing it it would be in the boot. think about fans and hot air then run usb extension back onto the bit vehind the back seats outa the way then!

[phildough]

Originally Posted by marcs_sp20

hmm, just thought this, how many usb ports can the case accomodate? Reason I say this is what you'd need to run:

1. Wireless keyboard/mouse
2. Portable hdd
3. 3G broadband dongle (for those who dont wanna hook up the phone )
4. GPS dongle...

I initially thought about running the pc in the glovebox, but considering I'd need to run things wireless, this would be useless as you'd want to have the glovebox closed (well not resting on your knees), so looks like under the passenger seat it is...and just run the wires up under the centre console!

From memory there are 6 usb ports - 2 on the front and 4 on the rear of these mini pc's but there is always the option of a usb hub for more.

For the internet I am going to use my phone via either bluetooth or via usb.
I dont see the need for another bill.
I have unused quota on my phone already.

[phildough]

Originally Posted by tc3_racer_001

if i were doing it it would be in the boot. think about fans and hot air then run usb extension back onto the bit vehind the back seats outa the way then!

I have an amp and a crossover under each seat so there is no chance of squashing a mini pc under the seats.
These pcs only have one tine 20 cm fan on the cpu and heat isn't really an problem unless you never clean the dust and crap out of the heatsink.
It is possible to remove the fan and fit a larger passive heatsink.

[marcs_sp20]

Originally Posted by phildough

From memory there are 6 usb ports - 2 on the front and 4 on the rear of these mini pc's but there is always the option of a usb hub for more.

For the internet I am going to use my phone via either bluetooth or via usb.
I dont see the need for another bill.
I have unused quota on my phone already.

See the only problem I have with using the phone for internet is that I would need to install the Nokia software, and well that needs to be installed from a dvd I get 500mb/mth, and would only use a quarter of that, but running a prepaid dongle (dodo does them where its $70 for 5gb, and valid for 12mths) so thats why I wanted to go that way...

More thinking involved me thinks

[Orion]

Originally Posted by marcs_sp20

See the only problem I have with using the phone for internet is that I would need to install software, and well that needs to be installed from a dvd

Thats one issue that I thought of initially too. As I want to use mine as more of a media centre, I would also want to be able to just load up a DVD (rather than having to use the one in my headunit).

I'm that that an external USB DVD player may be the solution but I will have to look more into it in terms of cost, size etc.

[70NYD]

you can Download a nokia PC suite of there website and dont need the dvd to load it off it. however using your phone as a modem is going to make for some seriusly slow browsing

[marcs_sp20]

Hehe, I dont need another dvd player, but then again my screen is a bit bigger then yours My one would be just played straight off the HDD, but would need a smallish inbuilt hdd for the computer side of things, to compute

Originally Posted by 70NYD

you can Download a nokia PC suite of there website and dont need the dvd to load it off it. however using your phone as a modem is going to make for some seriusly slow browsing

How so? I have had my phone hooked up to the lappy and it dowloads at around 256k, so not so slow as mentioned

[70NYD]

SSD 4TW
u can get 256gb SSD drives for like 400ish now haha. give it 4-6 months they will be 100

[marcs_sp20]

Originally Posted by 70NYD

SSD 4TW
u can get 256gb SSD drives for like 400ish now haha. give it 4-6 months they will be 100

trying to keep this as cheap as possible, $400 aint gonna cut it!

[phildough]

I would suggest using a compact flash card via a CF to IDE adaptor as a hard drive.
That way you are using a pc with no moving parts in the HDD to get damaged by vibrations.
To install software you share the optical drive in your pc and use it across your wireless network.
Or just copy the files onto a usb stick.

My phone works as a 3G / hsdpa modem so its actually faster than my adsl 1 at home.

[phildough]

Have also tried the Open ICE and it looked pretty cool.
I dont have a GPS here so I cant fully test it.

[Orion]

PLX Kiwi makes a Wifi enabled diagnostics system. The system has a wireless transmitter that plugs into the ODB II port and transmits wirelessly to an IPod Touch / IPhone. (not classic, unfort).

Product website:
http://www.plxkiwi.com/kiwiwifi/

This system yields any number of additional gauges and trip information. Here is a sensor list for one program - quite impressive.
http://www.palmerperformance.com/sup...a_enhanced.php

[70NYD]

Originally Posted by orion

plx kiwi makes a wifi enabled diagnostics system. The system has a wireless transmitter that plugs into the odb ii port and transmits wirelessly to an ipod touch / iphone. (not classic, unfort).

Product website:
http://www.plxkiwi.com/kiwiwifi/

this system yields any number of additional gauges and trip information. Here is a sensor list for one program - quite impressive.
http://www.palmerperformance.com/sup...a_enhanced.php

holy sheit thats awesome

[phildough]

Price slash on the parts.
It is an opus 120 W DC to DC ATX power supply and its now $75 and cases with boards are $100 each or best offer

[marcs_sp20]

I wish electric light bills were cheaper, i'd so snap one up

[phildough]

Marc I have just found a rather neat way of controlling your carputer.

[chicaboo]

What about this?



or this?



or a bit of both?

[RustyKaos]

That last pic looks so sad. LOL

Why not just use the touchscreen. I did see once a clear touch film that you apply to any screen and then just connect to USB. After it is calibrated works really well. Unfortunately I can't find the link for it anymore.

[Orion]

Man! All of this is giving me ideas! Very expensive ideas

I think that I will try to tick off a couple of my other mods that I have planned before I think of heading down the Carputer direction. This is a cool thread though guys! Keep up the discussion

Phil, do you have a link to the dimensions of the ATX cases or even the motherboards themselves? I have an idea where one might be able to fit them but I want to see if it is feasible.

Cheers.

[bourbon]

chicaboo..that mouse would go awesome in the centre consol, or on the arm rest